Efyelop machine



3 Sheets- Sheet 1.

J. BALL. BNVBLUP MACHINE.

Patented May 26 3 Sheets-Sheet 2,

- J. BALL. BNVBLUP MACHINE.

No. 78,858. Patented May 28, 1888.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. BALL. ENVELOP MACHINE.

No. 78,858. Patented My 28, 1888.

JAMESlVBAHLL. OF. N'EW Y-ORK N. Y.

Letters Patent'No. 78,353, dated M213/ 26, 1868,

IMPROVEMENT IN ENVBLOPE-MAGHINES.

@legittimita nient tu in that tttictt Jatcut mit hitting niet at tige amie.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY` (,IJONCERN:

Beit known that I, JAMS BALL, of 115 and 117 William street, New York, county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Envelope-Machines;- and I do hereby dclare that the following is a full, clear, -and e'xaet description thereof', whieh will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which drawings- Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section of this invention.

Figure 2 is ancnd view of the same.

Figure 3 is a plan'or top View of the same. v Y

Figure 4 is a detached view of the folding-wing, which aets on the sealilap.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to certain improvements in envelope-machines, oi' that class in whioh the gum is applied to theseal-aps of the blanks just before the same are earriedinto the folding-meelianism.

, First, in the arrangement of a revolving gommer, provided with a suitable projection, and moving at a diiierent speed fromthe table, `which supports the pile of blanks, in combination with this reciprocating table, in such a manner that the 'gummeig in passing over, will smoothly-gum the sealing-Hap.

Second, in givin'g to the revolving gummer a compound rising and falling and revolving motion, in such a manner that the same is depressed on the pile of blanks, and. caused to .revolve thereon for the purposeo'f applying the gum, and then raised clear of the pile of blanks and brought in Contact with the gumming-rollers, where it is again revolved, for the purpose of taking up the requisite supply of gum. i

Third, in the arrangement of a cam-stop and weight 6r spring, in combination with the shaft of the revolving gummer, in such 'a manner that by the combined aetionof the cam-stop andweight or spring, the pinions on the shaft ot" the revolving gum-mer are always held 'in the required position to drop in gear with the appropriate pinionsor racks.

v Fourth, in the arrangement of an automatie self-adjusting clamp, to act on the pile of blanks, and retain the samezlirmly in position 'while the gum is applied to any portion of the `iirstior top blankin the pile, and to release the same, and permit the top blank being carried oi" by thev piekersa't the proper intervals.

Fifth, in giving tothe pile of blanks a motion under theJ gummer and picker, in such a manner that said Apile is alternately brought underthe revolving gummer, which applies gum to the seal-flap, and then under the picker, which applies gum to thc lower Hap, and raises the blank up to be carried off by the conveyer.

Sixth, in thearrangcment of un automatic stop-motion, whereby-the picker and gummer are stopped, and retained in such a position that they do not interfere with the operation of.putting in new work.

Seventh, in the arrangement of distinct strips, catching over thei edges ot'pthc creasing-box, and constructed so that thesamc can ble set to correspond to any variation or defect in the knife or in the blanks fed to the folding-mechanism. v A

Eighth, in the arrangement of detachable heels on the foldingwings, in combination with one or more setscren's, in such a inanner that said iyings can be made to act on the b'ody'of the envclopewith more or less pressure while the-'edges are not prcssed, andthat envelopes of more or less thickness can be made, to suit the demand of the trade. y

Ninth, in them-rangement of spiral carriers or wormscrews,'for the purpose of carrying the envelopes` along, and retain-ing them free from pressure, until the gum-gn the seal-aps has had time to dry.

Tenth, in the combination of two or more sets of spiral carriers or Worm-screws, running in opposite directions, in such amanner that the envelopes are delivered from one-set of carriers to the other, and that the same areretained by said carriers a' suiicient length of time toalloiv the gum on the sealiap to dry.

Eleventh, in increasing the piteh ot' the threads at Jthe receiving-ends of, the spiral carriers, to facilitate' the entranecof the envelopes.

Twelfth, in the arrangement of a separator, acting at suitable intervals o n the envelopes, while the same are sustained by the spiral carriers, and serving to prevent the seal-flap of one envelope from adhering to the Abody of the next succeeding envelope.

Thirteenth, in the arrangement of a reciprocating convey'er to carry the envelopes from one set of spiral carriers to the other. i

lFourteenth, in the arrangement of a transparent panel or pane in the receiving-ti1ble, so that the operator is enabled to watch the spiral carriers, and the mechanism' connected with them, and to Acorrect any irregularities occurring in the motion of the envelopes through said spiral carriers before any injury 'is produced.

. Adrepresents the frame of my machine, which is made of cast iron, or any other suitable material, and Which'snpports the fixed bed, B, and the movable table, C. On this movable table restsa platform, D, being `hinged ,to the table by a pivot, a, which passes through one end of the same, and being provided with a thuml .piece -0r lip," 6, connectedto its other end, so that by pulling the thumb-piece said platform can be turned in or out. This hinged platform issntended to receive and support the pile of blanks, which are held in tho proper position by studs, c, rising from the platform, Aand which are introduced when the platform is turned out. When the'platform is turned in', and occupies itsworking position, the blanks could not be introduced 4except at much loss of time. y i Y When the platform is turned in, it is locked by the latch dl, which is pivoted to the front edge of the movable table, and which 'also forms the main element of the stop-motion, as will bepresently explained.

The table C is fitted in suitable ways in the frame A, and a'ieciprocating motion is'imparted toit hy menus of a cam, d, which is mounted on the driving-shaft e, and acts on an arm,f, that extends from a rock-shaft, g, which has its bearings inthe rear part of the-frame A. This rock-shaft connects, by two arms L, and rods z', with the table, as shown in figs. 1 and 3. Y

Above the table G rises a plate,lE, which rests on'suitahle standards rising from the frame A, and this pluto forms the support for two gum-boxes, ll' F, best seen in figs; 1 and 3. Each of these gum-boxes is provided witha rol'ler,j or y", to which a lco'ntirxuous revolving motion is imparted' by belts, ltr/cl, from the driving-shaft e. .Close to the roller j, in the gum-box I, is a secondary roller, Z,-which. turns freely in its bearings, and receives e. revolving motion by frictional contactwith the roller j, so that the gum taken up by this last-named roller is transferred to the-roller Z. From this roller the gum is transferred to the revolving glimmer G', which is mounted on the shaft m.

This shaft-has its bearings in slides n, to which a rising and falling motion is imparted by the' combined action'of springs o1 and of arms c, which extend from a roolc-shaft,p, which derives its motion from a cam, q, 'on the, driving-shaft. I On the shaft m aremou'nted two pinions, r rj, and a pulley, s, on'which winds a cd, t,carr'ying a weight, il', (forwhieh a spring may be substituted,yif desired,) and from the hubhof which extends a tappet,.u. When bhe shaft m is permitted to follow the action of the weight t, the tappet fu, is brought up against a'stop, u1, projeeting from one of the slides n, and by these means the pinions r 7" are held in such a position that when the slides n rise, the pinion r will engage correctly with a pinion, o, and when the slides descend, the pinion 7" will engage correctly with a toothed rack, w. The pinion u is mounted on a stud, which is fastenedin a bracket, vl, that is 'secured to the'plate E, and-it gears into a pinion, el, which is mounted on the arbor of the gum-roller j, and'revolves with the same, and when the pinion r drops inte gear with the pinion e, apartial revolving motion is imparted to the gummer G, causing its surface to roll against the distributing-gum roller Z, and thereby said revolving gnmmer is supplied with the requisiteamount of gum. While the gummer Gr is thus revolved, the cord tis wound up on the pulley s, and as soon as the slides descend far enough to throw the pinion r out of gear with the pinion o, the weight t1 drops down and throws the gommer Gr in the proper position to transmit its gum to the first blank of the pile on the platform D, and in order to bring said pile under the revolving gummer, the table C, with the platform, moves out to its extreme position. As the revolving gummer descends, the pinion r1 drops into gear with. the toothed rack w, which is fitted' into the tab'le'C, and which is supported by'springs, so that it can yield to the pressure of the pinion, and recede, until the gummer strikes the pile of blanks.

At the moment the table b egins to move in towards the folding-mcchanism, the gummer is made to revolve on the first blank by the action of the toothed rack w on the pinion r1, so as to transmit its 'gum to the sealap, and the pinion r1 is so proportioned that the circumferential velocity of the gummer is greater than the velocity of the reciprocating table, so that a wiping motion is produced, whereby the trpnsmission of surplus gum to the flap is prevented. After this object has been accomplished the slides n rise, the pinion rl disengages from the rack w, and the gummer is carried back to its original position by the weight tl.

While the' revolving gummor acts on the pile of blahks, said pile is subjected to the actionvof a' clamp, x, which is 'composed of' two fingers, extending from vertical rods, which slide up and down freely in sockets in the table C. The lower ends of these rods bear on brackets y, which extend from theslides n, and as these slides `rise, the clamp is raised clear of the pile of blanks, so as riot to interfere withthc action of the pickers H, but

when the slides descend, the clamp sinks down by its own gravity, and bears on the pile of blanks, retaining the same firmly in position, while the revolving gummer takes effect.'

The pickers H are raised by means of an arm, e, which extends from the plunger-rod a2, and they descend by their own gravity until. they strike the pile of blanks, thearm e'being made to work in a slot-so that its motion is not limited by that of the pickers. i

When the pickers have arrived in their highest position, (which is the case while thercvolving gummer transmits its gum to thesealliap,)tho distributing-gum roller Zl of the gum-box-F, is moved-out in such a manner that it rolls along under thepickers and transmits the requisite supply of gum to the picker-faces. To

effect this motion, Isaid distributing-gum roller has its bearings in a carriage, b2, which moves between suitable guides on the top cf the plate D, motion being imparted to it by rods c, which extend from' said carriage to a rod, d2, secured to arms e2, which are mounted on a shaft, f2, to which a rocking motion is imparted at the required intervals, by a cam on the driving-shaft. After the pickers havebeen thus supplied with gum, the roller l recedes, the table C with the blanks moves in, and the pickers descend until they strike the pile of blanks. By these means gum is transmitted to the lower ilup ofthe first blanl and when the pickers rise, said blank adheres to them,- and is raised from thepile to the'proper position to be received by the conveyer I.

In ordento preve'nt the pickers and therevolving gummer from descending when the platform D is not in the proper working position, andparticulurly to obtain time for introducing new work, I have applied an auto-v matic stopmotion, which will now be described. When the platform D is turned in to its working position, -it

Ais locked by the latch d, as has been previously stated. This latch is attached to the outer edge of the tableC,

by a pivot, g2,"and it is operated by a button or thumbpiece, 7a2. When turned to itslocking position, it rests on a stop, t?, secured in the lip b, which is connected to the platform D, and serves to move the same in or out. When the latch is reversed on its pivot, its tip strikes the end of the frame A, and its heel still projectsv over the lip b, and prevents the platform D being moved until the table C-has reached the inner end of its stroke. At that point the' tip of thelatch d drops into a notch in the frame, and the heel of said latch releases the lip b2, leaving the platform D free to be moved out from under the plate E. Atthe same time a small plate, 7c, which is secured to the table C, has arrived under a stop, Z2, which projects from the inner surface of 'one of the slides n., and by these means the slides are prevented from following the action of their springs 01.

Simultaneously with this action, the inner edge of the table C bears ,on a spring-arm, m, which extends from an arbor, n2, on -which is mounted a toe, o2, and which is subjected to theaetion of a spring, p2. This spring has a tendency tothrow the toe back, so that its point will clear Aa projection, g2, on the inner surface of the rod to which the pickers are secured. But if the table bears against the arm me, the toe is thrownforwards so that it catches under the projection g2, and the pickers are .prevented from descending. The platform D can now be turned out, and new work putin without stopping the main shaft of the machine, and after the platform has been readjusted, the latch ci is turned back and the operation of the machine progresses, as heretofore described.

`The conveyers I are constructed like thoseof any common envelope-machine, and theycarry the blank which they take from the pickers under the creasing-plunger K. This plunger receives itsmotion from a suitable cam on the driving-shaft, audit forces the blank down through the upper creasing-box L, and delivers it on to the foldingtableM. This table is supported by a rod, r2, which 4is pivoted to a rocking arm, s2, and by said arm'it receives a rising and falling motion, causing it. to pass up into the lower creasing-box N, to the position which it occupies in fig. 1, and then 'down to discharge the folded envelope, and as it descends itis tilted on the pivot which forms its`connectio'n with the rod r2, so that the folded envelope will slide off on the chute t2.

On the edges of the lower creasing-box are the folding-wings v2 o, and after the creased envelope has been deliveredon the foldingtable, these wings turn in in the proper order to produce the operation of folding. Said wings are mounted on oscillating-spindles or arbors, to which the required motion is imparted from vthe main shaft, and they are provided with adjustable heels zu?, so that they can be made to act with greater or less force on the envelopes, while the edges are left unpressed, and envelopes of greater or less thickness can be produced to suit the demand of the trade.

The wing v2* which acts on the seal-flap of the envelopes, is operated, like the other folding-wings, by a. crank, 9:", mounted on one end of its arbor, and as said wing turns down, this crank strik'es a stop, y2, which consists of a screw, so that it can be adjusted, and that thefolding-wing vzlis prevented from pressing the seal# flap close down on the body of the envelope. By adjusting the stop yz, the distance to which the seal-flap is pressed down can be adjusted, (see g. 4.)

Thesides ofthe lower creasing-box N are adjustable, so that said box can be slightly increased or decreased, to correspond to any irregularity in the knives or to any defect in the blanks.

The chute t2 is perforated with two slots, to admit ngers u2, which extend from the top end of a lever, v,

that receives a vibrating motion by the combined action of a cam on the driving-shaft, and of a spring, w. AS,

the fingers u2 come in contact with the envelope sliding down over the'ehute, they push the same into the first set of spiral carriers O. A

This set consists of one or more pairs of wormfscrews, each pair containing one right and one -left-hand screw, placed'` parallel to each other, and made to revolve in such a direction that they carry the envelopes delivered to them down.. 'The upper end of each carrier is provided with a screw-thread, x2, of increased pitch, so that the envelopes on 'dropping down from the `chute are caught and delivered.to the threads of the carrier, and the speed of tbc carriers is such,that they complete one revolution while the-folding-meehanism completes one envelope. The envelopes delivered to the spiral carriers are therefore separated lby the intervening screwlthreads, and they are carried down without being exposed to the slightest pressure, which might have a tendency -to cause the seal-flaps to adhere to the bodies of the envelopes. It happens sometimes, however, that the seal Hap of one envelope catches, bears against the body of the next succeeding envelope, and adheres to it by small drops of gum projecting over the edge of said SeaLHap, and I have therefore applied a separator, y2, which consists of an arm extending from an upright shaft, z2; to which arocking motion is imparted by the combined action of a spring, a3, and of a cam, Z13, whch is mounted on the upper end of -the gudgeon ofone of the spiral carriers. This separator sweeps through between the several envelopes, and separates the seal-deps if they should happen to adhere to the bodies of the'succeeding envelopes.

An arm, c3, extending from the upper part of the shaft z, assists in causing the envelopes to arrive in the 0n reaching the bottom end of the carriers O, the envelopes are discharged upon the conveyor c?, to which a reciprocating motion is imparted by the action of the lever n2. By thi's conveyor one envelope after the other is delivered to the second set of spiral carriers O. These carriers are constructed similar to the carriers O, but they revolve in such a direction that the envelopes delivered to them are carried up. Each of the carriers O is providedwith a screw-thread, e3, of increased pitch at its bottom end, so that the same are enabled to receive the envelopes from the conveyer dJ without failure'. On reaching the top ends of the carriers O, the gum on the envelopes'has dried, and the envelopes can be put up in packages without delay. For this purpose a table, P, is attached to the end of the frarne A, Vat such aV- height that the envelopes, on arriving at the top ends of the carriers O', can be readily counted oft', taken out, placed on said table, and put up as desired. The table P is provided with a transparent pane, f3, 'so that the operator isenabled to watch thc action ofthe carriers, and to see that no disorder takes place as the envelopes pass throughsaid carriers.

By these means an envelope-machine is obtained, which gums the seal-flaps as well as the lower or end-flaps, and which completes the envelopes, so that the operator has nothing to do but to keep the requisite supply of blanks inthe machine and te take the finished envelopes out.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent., is

1. The arrangement of a revolving gumnicr, Gr, having a different velocity from the table which supports the blanks, in combination with the reciprocating table C, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. Giving to the revolving gummer a positive compound rising and falling and revolving motion, substantially f 4as and for the purpose described.

3. IThe cam u, stop al., and weight or spring t, in combination with the pinions o, on the shaft of the gummer G, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. I

l 4. The self-adjusting clamp n: to act on the pile of blanks, substantially as and for the purpose described. Y, 5. Givingto tlie pile of blanks a motion under the gummer G and picker H, substantially as and for the purpose 'set forth.

6, The arrangement of an automatic stop-motion, composed of the latch d, and notch in the frame in combination with the gummer and picker, and with the platform D supporting the blanks, substantially as 51nd for the purpose described. y

7. The arrangement of distinct strips N, eatchingover t thereto by set-screws, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The heels 'wz attached to the folding-wings v2 u, by one or more set-screws` substantially as and for the he edges of the lower ereasingbox, and attached purpose described.

9. The spiral carriers O, to carry the envelopes along has dried, when arranged substantially as described.

l 10. The combination of two or more sets of spiral carriers tially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. Increasing the pitch of the screw-threads at the receivingas and for the purpose described.

l 12. The separator e3, in combination with the spiral carriers,

13. The reciprocating conveyer cl3, in combination with the spiral conveyers O O', substantially as and for theA purpose described. l

14. The arrangement of a. transparent panel or pane,f3,.in the receivingsubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JAMES BALL.

, and retain them free from pressure until the gum O O', running in opposite directions, substanends of the spiral carriers O O, substantially substantially as and for the purpose set forth. constructed and operating table P of the envelope-machine,

Witnesses GUsTAv BERG, W. HAUFF. 

